New Delhi: Hours after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the central government for not having adequate Covid 19 testing kits, Union Health Ministry refuted such claim.
"What is important is the output. Only 1 of 24 symptomatic patience tests Covid 19 positive In India...a clear indication of our advance action," said Luv Agarwal, joint secretary in the Health Ministry.
He said that the government's mission is not to miss out on any positive case.
"We want to ensure that everyone is tested as per properly laid down testing criteria," said Agarwal.
Echoing the same view, Dr Ratan R Gangakhedkar from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that Japan carries 11.7 tests to get 1 positive. Similarly, Italy conducts 6.7 tests, USA conducts 5.3 tests.
"India conduct 24 tests for one positive case. Not all people belong to vulnerable groups," said Dr Gangakhedkar.
Meanwhile, Lav Agarwal said that 27 districts from 17 states across India including Telangana, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, J&K, Manipur, UP, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram and Madhya Pradesh have reported no Corona positive cases in last 14 days.
With this, all 27 districts have switched over from red zone to orange zone. And if the situation remains similar, all districts will automatically turn into a green zone (Covid infection-free area).
Aggrawal said that 325 districts in India reported no case of Covid-19. He said that Mahi in Puducherry has reported no Covid positive cases in the last 28 days.
He said that an action plan has been made on strengthening the centre's ongoing surveillance utilising service of WHO's national polio surveillance network team.
He informed that health ministry has sent two central teams to Maharastra to help the state government in dealing with the outbreak of Covid19. India has recorded 12759 cases as on Thursday.
Agarwal informed that India's recovery rate is 12.03 percent (1514 people) and with 420 death India's fatality rate is 3.3 percent. At present, the number of active Covid cases is 10824. Meanwhile, India has received 5 lakh rapid antibody test kits from China.
"We have received 5 lakh antibody test kits from two different companies in China. And these kits will not be used for early diagnosis. It will be used for surveillance and epidemiology purpose," said Dr Gangakhedkar.
Wondfo Biotech Company, Zhuhai and Livzon Diagnostic Inc, Shenzen have delivered the testing kits.
Dr Gangakhedkar also said that as the kits will be used only for surveillance, hence there is no concern with respect to the testing kits faulty, that concern was with respect to immune response alone.
He said that ICMR can test more than 78,000 people in a day if it works in two shifts.
"As of now we have conducted 290401 tests through our 176 ICMR affiliated and 78 private labs across India," said Dr Gangakhedkar.
Replying to a query whether Coronavirus will be reduced during summer, Dr Gangakhedkar said, "there is no evidence to suggest that the number of cases will be reduced in the summer."
On the other hand, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had an interaction programme with industry leaders on Thursday.
"The Health Minister has assured that industry concern will be addressed," sources said.
In another Covid19 related development, after a Pizza delivery boy was found Covid positive at Malviya Nagar, shops have been sealed in the area and massive municipal administrations carried a massive sanitation programme.
Meanwhile, sources in the Home Ministry said that MHA is monitoring on a daily basis incident of violation of lockdown guidelines including the congregation of people and opening of shops and establishments.
"Instances of violence against health workers engaged in surveillance and quarantine measures, etc are also being ascertained. MHA would take action under the Disaster Management Act against officers found responsible for church violations," sources said.
The Home Ministry has also issued advisory on securities of Zoom meeting platform. Stating that Zoom is not a safe platform, the home ministry said that the broad objective of the advisory is to prevent any unauthorised entry into a zoom conference room and prevent unauthorised participants to carry out malicious attacks on the terminals of other users in the conference.
On the other hand, in a major relief for consumers, people engaged with e-commerce will be allowed to deliver essential items from April 20.
At present e-commerce companies are only permitted to deliver essential foods and medical supplies but following a revised lockdown guidelines issued by the Home Ministry it was told that from April 20 e-commerce can look for normalcy of their activities.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has asked all state chief secretaries to ensure adequate arrangements for safety, shelter and food security of migrant labourers and stranded person.
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